Article V
CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE APPORTIONMENTS
Section 45. Representatives in congress. The general assembly shall devide the state into
as many congressional districts as there are representatives in congress apportioned to the
state by the congress of United States for the election of one representative to congress
for each district. When a new apportionment shall be made by congress, the general
assembly shall divide the state into congressional districts accordingly.
Amended 1974, S.C.R. 1, sect. 1, effective Jan. 1, 1975
Section 45. General assembly. The general assembly shall consist of not more than thirtyfive members of the senate and of not more than sixtyfive members of the house of
representatives, one to be elected from each senatorial and each representative district,
respectively.
As amended November 8, 1966. (See Laws 1967, chapter 456.)
Section 46. Senatorial and representative districts. The state shall be divided into as
many senatorial and representative districts as there are members of the senate and house
of representatives respectively, each district in each house having a population as nearly
equal as may be, as required by the constitution of the United States, but in no event shall
there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and the least
populous district in each house.
As amended by the People, November 5, 1974 Effective upon proclamation of the
Governor, December 20, 1974.
Section 47. Composition of districts. (1) Each district shall be as compact in area as
possible and the aggregate linear distance of all district boundaries shall be as short as
possible. Each district shall consist of contiguous whole general election precincts.
Districts of the same house shall not overlap.
(2) Except when necessary to meet the equal population requirements of section 46, no
part of one county shall be added to all or part of another county in forming districts.
Within counties whose territory is contained in more than one district of the same house,
the number of cities and towns whose territory is contained in more than one district of
the same house shall be as small as possible. When county, city, or town boundaries are
changed, adjustments, if any, in legislative districts shall be as prescribed by law.
(3) Consistent with the provisions of this section and section 46 of this article,
communities of interest, including ethnic, cultural, economic, trade area, geographic, and
demographic factors, shall be preserved within a single district wherever possible.